Erasmus+ project led by WIDE+: “WE-EMPOWER: Expanding tools in Addressing Barrieres for Migrant Women to participate in Democratic Life”
Project Summary
WE-EMPOWER has been a transnational collaboration that encouraged and empowered migrant women to participate in civic and democratic action in Europe. Migrant women are for us all women, including gender non-conforming persons, people who are displaced between countries, trafficked or who have moved from a third or European country to a destination in Europe.
The project ended by November 2024 after 2,5 years of collaborative work among feminist/women-led and migrant women-led organisations with a shared mission to protect the rights of migrant women rights. The project partners have been NGO Atina, Romanian Women’s Lobby, ADRI Association, KULU-Women and Development, GADIP, Red Latinas, Alianza por la Solidaridad, Gabriela Germany, and the coordinator WIDE+.
This project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the writers and participants and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Materials and activities from the project
Toolkit
This toolkit is one of the key transnational learning products from the project. Access the toolkit here: “Enhancing Democratic Participation of Migrant Women in Europe through Community Building and Strategic Communication“.
The bulk of the toolkit is focused on highlighting practices from the collective work of migrant women collaborating together or with other feminists towards more democratic participation for migrant women.
Treasure Box
The WE-EMPOWER Treasure Box is a curated collection of non-formal educational materials, communication tools, and messages. Each “treasure” within the box has been developed by our partner organisations with the aim of empowering migrant women and enhancing their inclusion in democratic processes. Explore the wide range of “treasures” in the WE-EMPOWER treasure box here: https://we-empower-treasurebox.org/treasure-box/
Baseline Studies EU, Germany, Denmark, Italy and Serbia
The baselines studies provide an overview into the situation of migrant women in the EU and different countries, including insight into barriers, providing examples of migrant women democratic participation and concluding with recommendations. Compiled report (in English and multiple languages): Briefing Papers for baseline studies on migrant women’s democratic participation in EU, Germany, Denmark, Italy and Serbia.
The studies have been made accesible through factsheets (in English): Factsheets for baseline studies on migrant women’s democratic participation in EU, Germany, Denmark, Italy and Serbia.
The baseline studies and factsheets are available as individual papers or sheets, for which the links are provided at the end of this page.
Survey Case Study Spain
Red Latinas also put together a report investigating the participation of migrants in Spain. The report is based on primary research which is a survey conducted with around 1350 respondents in Spain. Click here to read the report in Spanish, and here for the report in English.
Transnational Training events
WE-EMPOWER third transnational training in Madrid, Spain from 29 February to 1 March 2024, hosted by Red Latinas: “We Empower: Migrant women breaking down barriers in Politics”
WE-EMPOWER second transnational Training in Belgrade, Serbia, on 18-19 October 2023, hosted by NGO Atina: ” Participation of migrant women in democratic life through the community of practice”.
WE-EMPOWER first Transnational Training that was held on 21 and 22 March 2023 in Brussels, Belgium.
Public events, “treasures” and other trainings – organised by partner
Overall WE-EMPOWER Online Multiplier Event Report of most of the online and hybrid events part of the project.
ADRI – Associazione Donne Romene in Italia
Alianza por la Solidaridad
- Activities & reports:
- Treasures:
Atina
- Activities & reports:
- Public event organized on 20 October 2023 alongside the second transnational training in Belgrade, Serbia. It was organised by Atina, together with WIDE+ and Oxfam Italia Intercultura, called: “Report Democracy Embraces Diversity Celebrating and Empowering Migrant Women’s Participation”, and included a dialogue between migrant women leaders in Serbia and from the WE-EMPOWER project and representatives from different government institutions involved in the process of welcoming female asylum seekers.
- Treasures:
- Video from the public event on 20 October: Democracy Supports Diversity: Celebrating and Empowering the Participation of Migrant Women
- Conquering Freedom
- Story of Katia
- Women on the move
Gabriela Germany
- Activities & reports:
- Two-day Online Mental Health Training workshop for migrant women, especially BIPOCs (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) in September 2023.
- Treasures:
GADIP – Gender and Development in Practice
- Activities & reports:
- Treasures:
KULU – Kvindernes U- Landsudvalg
- Activities & reports:
- WE-EMPOWER multiplier event report in Copenhagen, Denmark on 14 June 2024, hosted by KULU – Women and Development: “Politics is for all: Also women with minority background?”
- Online Resource Hub of the Webinar series (in Danish) that links to the individual webinars below.
- 17 August 2023: Tips for strengthening your personal economy – in collaboration with Babaylan Denmark
- 24 August 2023:From arrival to participation: your democratic rights
- 31 August 2023: From storytelling to change: the voices of migrant women
- Treasures:
Red Latinas – Asociación Red de Mujeres Latinoamericanas y del Caribe
- Treasures
WIDE+ – Feminists Transforming Economic Development
- Activities & report:
- Treasures:
Multiple partners
- Treasures
- Infrographics: Key Insights from a Report on Migrant Women’s Political Participation in Spain. (Alianza por la Solidaridad, Red Latinas)
- Feminist Solidarity Forum: Expert Panel on Women’s Leadership and Political Participation. (ADRI, Romanian Women’s Lobby)
- Participation of Migrant Women in Political and Democratic Life in Italy. (ADRI, Romanian Women’s Lobby)
